YOUTH HEALTH TEAM AIDS BOLIVIAN ORPHANS

The Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach recently sent nine teens to rural Bolivia as part of a first-ever youth team sponsored by Con El (With Him), a nonprofit medical organization affiliated with the diocese.

The purpose of the trip was to improve knowledge and standards of health of children in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The teens, traveling with three chaperones, taught basic health care to homeless orphans ages 2 to 18 at Amanecer, a shelter in Cochabamba.

The teens that participated in the two week mission included Annette Coro and Stacey Perfetto of Boca Raton, Christine Burgos of Boynton Beach, Stephen McIntosh of North Palm Beach, Ed Skrod of Jupiter, Genove Ramirez of Belle Glade, Maria Lopez of Pahokee and Maria Merten of Port St. Lucie.

The teens were recruited by Con El coordinator Dorothy Martin through the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Other chaperones included Christelle Martin of Palm Beach, Christine Wagner of West Palm Beach and Laura Gillio of Jensen Beach.

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Three Israeli mayors were recently honored during a reception at the Harold and Sylvia Kaplan Jewish Community Center in West Palm Beach.

The group was on an extended visit to Palm Beach County in conjunction with Partnership 2000, linking Palm Beach County and the Tzahar region of Israel to stimulate dialogue and develop commerce. Partnership 2000 is sponsored locally by the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

A small task force from the Kaplan Center visited the mayors and Israeli cultural officials in June to create Israeli programming for the center. The public will be introduced to these cultural program additions during Jerusalem 3000, an event celebrating Israel's millennium at the Kaplan Center beginning in December. For information, call the Jewish Federation at 478-0700.

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B'nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton has scheduled several open houses in the coming weeks for prospective members to check out their full-service Conservative synagogue. Officers of the synagogue will be available to discuss the schedule of services, activities, programs and classes.